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Date and Time
Tuesday Jun 6, 2023
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT7:30 a.m. | Doors Open
8 a.m. | Program beginsLocation
Midwest Agriculture Summit
Red River Valley Fair Grounds | 8 a.m.
1805 Main Ave W, West FargoContact Information
Nicolette Bresnahan
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Description
The Midwest Agriculture Summit is the second summit of the 2023 series, taking place on June 6 at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds. Experts, businesses, and policymakers from across the region and nation will be unpacking, discussing, and taking an in-depth look at the dynamic facets of the Ag sector, including critical policies and pressing issues.
Can't make it to Fargo, ND, to join us in person? There is no cost to tune into the livestream.
To receive the livestream link, please register for the $0 livestream via the registration button.The Midwest plays a critical role in agriculture in the United States and globally. As an ag hub that the world relies on for essential crops, livestock, equipment, and other products, we must have intentional conversations that convene leaders and policymakers to promote and protect this sector. The region is also an entrepreneurial hub bursting with transformative ideas, education, cutting-edge technologies, and a growing ecosystem for businesses, all related to agriculture. We must continue to shine a light on the transformative work being done in the Midwest as the region continues to elevate itself on a national and global scale.
The Midwest Ag Summit will also feature three panels of experts with the first being heavily focused on policies, regulation and the paramount Farm Bill of 2023, and the second uncovering and discussing leading efficiencies, development, innovation, sustainability, and the landscape of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) evolution and impacts.Keynote Address: What Matters Most to Agriculture
Dr. Walter Kemmsies
Managing Partner
The Kemmsies GroupDr. Walter Kemmsies is widely viewed as one of the foremost experts on ports, rail, and infrastructure in the U.S. His areas of expertise include demand forecasting, maritime, and overall global trade regulatory issues, public and private port and infrastructure financing, and long-term strategic planning and capital investment. Having worked in major cities worldwide, Walter has a global perspective that uniquely qualifies him as a global trade economist. Scroll past the sponsors at the bottom of the page to see Walter's full bio.
Panel: Navigating the Farm Bill
Dr. Scott Brown, Associate Extension Professor, University of Missouri - Columbia
Collin C. Peterson, Former United States Representative
Dr. Greg Lardy, Vice President for Agricultural Affairs, North Dakota State University (panel moderator)
Dr. Scott Brown Collin C. Peterson Dr. Greg Lardy
Brief Remarks: Farm Bill and Crucial Policy
U.S. Senator John Hoeven
Headwaters Tech HubJoseph Thiel, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Montana University System
Todd O'Hair, President & CEO, Montana Chamber of Commerce
Adam Gilbertson, Senior Vice President of Field Technology & Innovation, RDO Equipment Co.
Panel: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
Jared Knock, Business Development, AgSpire
Michael Reese, Director, West Central Research and Outreach Center
Kayla Ver Helst, Sustainability Officer, Bank of North Dakota
Jeff Schmidt, Chief Risk Officer, AgCountry (panel moderator)
Keynote Address:
Xochitl Torres Small
Under Secretary for Rural Development
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Senate confirmed Xochitl Torres Small to serve as the Under Secretary for Rural Development on October 7, 2021. In this role, she oversees loans and grants to provide infrastructure improvements; business development; affordable housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal, and high-poverty areas. USDA Rural Development secured $2 billion to support rural broadband through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law during her leadership.Scroll past the sponsors at the bottom of the page to see Xochitl's full bio.
2022 Ag Summit InForum Story | 2022 Ag Summit BRIDGE recap | 2022 Ag Summit photo album
The Midwest Summits are co-hosted by 26 chambers of commerce across Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. These co-hosts provide additional connections and relationships, offer programming ideas and insight, showcase the live stream in their own communities, and receive well-deserved recognition at each summit. The Midwest Summits are hosted in person in the FMWF area and are also live-streamed across the Upper Midwest at no cost to viewers. The live stream can be accessed through the FMWF Chamber’s website and is broadcasted on every Forum Communications digital news site in 22 markets across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.June 5 - 9 is AgTech Week in the FMWF area. Check out the 2023 schedule to see what else is happening.
Tuesday, June 6
Midwest Agriculture Summit
Hosted by The Chamber
Red River Valley Fairgrounds | Scroll up to register
Wednesday, June 7
Bushel Buddy Seat Conference
Hosted by Bushel
Fargo Theatre | Register here
Bushel & Grand Farm/Cultivate Shindig
Roberts Alley in Downtown Fargo
This event is open to attendees of Grand Farm's Cultivate Conference & Bushel's Buddy Seat Conference
Thursday, June 8
Cultivate Conference
Hosted by Grand Farm
Fargo Theatre | Register here
Midwest Ag Summit Premier Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors
Bank of North Dakota | Bobcat Company | Eide Bailly LLP | North Dakota State University
RDO / R.D. Offutt Company
Midwest Summit Co-hosts
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Speaker Biographies
Dr. Walter Kemmsies
Dr. Walter Kemmsies is widely viewed as one of the foremost experts on ports, rail, and infrastructure in the U.S. His areas of expertise include demand forecasting, maritime, and overall global trade regulatory issues, public and private port and infrastructure financing, and long-term strategic planning and capital investment. Having worked in major cities worldwide, Walter has a global perspective that uniquely qualifies him as a global trade economist.Walter currently advises several major U.S. Port Authorities and is routinely asked to work on complex issues with various investment banks, private equity firms, and public regulatory agencies. He provides substantial support to the freight movement industry via publication of port volume data for the American Association of Port Authorities, presentations at major international industry conferences, and advises the U.S. Department of Commerce on supply chain competitiveness. Walter recently testified to the U.S. Senate Transportation and Commerce Subcommittee on issues affecting freight industry.
Prior to joining JLL, Dr. Kemmsies was the Chief Economist for Moffat & Nichol, a leading global infrastructure advisement firm. Proceeding his experience working with Moffat & Nichol, Walter was the Head of European Strategy at JP Morgan in London, and, earlier, Head of Global Industry Strategy at UBS in Zurich and London.
Xochitl Torres Small
Xochitl Torres Small was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the Under Secretary for Rural Development on October 7, 2021. In this role, she oversees loans and grants to provide infrastructure improvements; business development; affordable housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal, and high-poverty areas. During her leadership, USDA Rural Development secured $2 billion to support rural broadband through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Prior to coming to Rural Development, Xochitl was a United States Representative for the fifth largest district in the country. As a Representative, Xochitl served as a member of the House Agriculture Committee, the House Armed Services Committee and as chairwoman of the Oversight, Management, and Accountability subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee. Xochitl was the first woman and first person of color to represent New Mexico’s second congressional district.
The granddaughter of farmworkers, Xochitl Torres Small grew up in the borderlands of New Mexico. She has worked as a field representative for Senator Tom Udall, a clerk for United States District Court Judge Robert C. Brack, and an attorney practicing water and natural resources law. Xochitl has a law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law, an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and an international baccalaureate from Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa. She’s happily married to her husband, New Mexico State Representative Nathan Small.
Dr. Scott Brown
Scott Brown joined Mizzou in 1989 as a research associate in FAPRI, the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute. He is an expert in Missouri agricultural policy, as well as the livestock market outlook and dairy policy. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on the quantitative effects of changes in federal dairy and livestock policies, and currently works with the Missouri legislature on the economic effects of state policy options on Missouri agriculture. He also provides regular market outlook on the livestock and dairy industries.He received the 2016 C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship from the UM Board of Curators for commitment, dedication and effectiveness in advancing the land-grant mission, and has been recognized as a Special Friend of the Missouri Institute of Cooperatives. He was the 2005 national winner of the Farm and Ranch Financial Management Program Award, given by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. Brown is a Mizzou graduate with both his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in agricultural economics.
During the past two decades, Brown has worked extensively in determining the quantitative effects of changes in federal dairy and livestock policies and has testified regularly before U.S. Congress. He currently works with the Missouri legislature on the economic effects of state policy options on Missouri agriculture. He also provides regular market outlook on the livestock and dairy industries.
Collin C. Peterson
Congressman Collin C. Peterson represented Minnesota’s Seventh District from 1991 to 2021. He served as Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee from 2005 to 2021 and was instrumental in writing and passing four farm bills. He is a nationally recognized expert on agriculture policy and has a strong reputation for his steadfast commitment to bringing everyone to the table while offering positive and practical solutions to difficult problems.Congressman Peterson grew up on a farm near Moorhead, Minnesota and was active in 4H, high school music and sporting activities, and working on the farm. He earned a BA in Accounting and Business Administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead, served in the National Guard, and went on to become a Certified Public Accountant in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1976 and served for 10 years with a focus on the agriculture and tax committees.
Mr. Peterson is currently President and founder of his government affairs and public policy firm, The Peterson Group. He also has a partnership with Combest Sell and Associates in Washington D.C. to advise and consult on policies that bolster U.S. agriculture and rural America.
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